he transition is presented as a measure to restore trust and strengthen the management of European funds. The government says the move responds to European Commission recommendations for a modern and effective payment agency. - AADE is cited as having demonstrated operational capacity during the pandemic, possessing robust digital infrastructure, strong IT systems and the ability to carry out strict controls — capabilities the bill intends to leverage to improve subsidy payment integrity and speed. - Officials say the reform will protect public and EU funds, ensure subsidies reach those who legitimately qualify, and free up resources that can be redistributed to honest farmers and livestock breeders.
Statements from officials - Vice‑President Kostis Hatzidakis: The transfer is a significant reform to impose order on agricultural subsidies. He said AADE offers guarantees of effectiveness and, together with the Commission‑approved Action Plan (approved last week), will create from 2026 a modern and reliable system for agricultural payments that supports honest farmers by reallocating available resources. - Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis: The transfer aims to end a decades‑long problem by building a subsidy system governed by rules, transparency and respect for farmers. He highlighted AADE’s operational capacity, technology and culture of efficiency. - Minister of Rural Development and Food Kostas Tsiaras: The transition is described as an institutional change to secure transparency, speed and reliability for every euro paid to farmers. He stressed AADE’s expertise and that continuity of OPEKEPE staff will help maintain uninterrupted payments. - AADE Governor Giorgos Pitsilis: He called the transfer a major challenge and emphasized the goal that each euro go only to rightful beneficiaries, protecting EU and Greek taxpayers and rebuilding trust in agricultural aid.
Details of the bill 1) Transfer of OPEKEPE responsibilities to AADE - AADE becomes the Payment Agency for all Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments. - From 1 January 2026, AADE will receive all OPEKEPE assets, IT systems, ongoing contracts and pending litigation. - All OPEKEPE accreditations transfer automatically to AADE to avoid interruption of payments. - Strategic CAP planning remains the responsibility of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food.
2) Transfer of personnel and three‑year mobility ban - All OPEKEPE employees are transferred to AADE without changes to employment status; current pay scales remain until reclassification. - New restrictions include prohibition on staff participation in commercial companies and a three‑year ban on transfers to other bodies or within AADE, intended to prevent loss of critical staff during setup of the new payment mechanism.
3) Modernization of recovery of unlawfully or incorrectly paid amounts - Procedures for recovering improperly paid subsidies from the Special Guarantee Account (ELEGE P) are tightened and updated. - Digital notification of recovery acts is established; certification and offsetting processes are updated to align with AADE’s operating model. - AADE’s acts will serve as enforceable titles for collecting debts owed to the Account, strengthening enforcement.
Public consultation and where to read the draft - The draft law text has been posted online. Public consultation runs until Monday 8 December. The bill text is available at: https://www.opengov.gr/minfin/?p=13828 (source).
